Necktie knot forming device



DCC. 27, 1955 A ZELE NECKTIE KNOT FORMING DEVICE Filed Oct. 14, 1953 ANDREW ZELE United States Patent iiice 2,728,081 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 NECKTIE KNOT FORMING DEVICE Andrew Zele, Bronx, N. Y. Application October 14, 1953, Serial No. 385,931

4 Claims. (Cl. 2-153) This invention relates to a device of funnel-like shape insertable in the previously tied knot of a necktie, to prevent shifting or loosening of the knot while preserving the desired symmetrically tapered appearance thereof.

The invention has as one important object thereof the provision of a form for four-in-hand ties that will be eX- tendable into the knot after the knot has been completely tied in the normal manner.

Another object is to proportion a knot forming device for frictionally engaging a back tie panel extended therethrough so as to ordinarily prevent relative movement of the panel and device, while still permitting the back panel to be pulled through the forming device to any eX- tent desired when the knot is being drawn tight.

A further object is to effect a frictional engagement between the outer surface of the tie form and the portions of the knot surrounding the same, in such a manner as will insure against slippage of the knot and loss of its desired shape.

Still another object is to form a knot holding and shaping appliance in such a way as will permit the device, in at least one embodiment thereof, to be adjustably widened to eiect shaping of the knot to a selected width.

Yet another object is to design the adjustment means used for widening the device in a manner that will cause said means to serve the additional function of preventing relative slippage between the back panel and the knot forming device. l

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View looking downwardly toward the front of the device.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational View.

Fig. 5 is a front View of a knotted necktie showing the device during an intermediate step of application thereof to the necktie, part of the tie being broken away.

- Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 in which the device has been completely inserted.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, rear view of the necktie with the device fully inserted, portions of the tie being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of a modified forni, part being broken away.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 1l is a sectional View on line 11-11 of Fig. 1G.

Fig. l2 is a perspective View of an expansion ring embodied in the modied form of Fig. 9.

The knot holding and shaping device has been designated generally at 14, and is shaped from a single piece of thin sheet metal, plastic, or other material having the desired characteristics of strength, low cost, and slight springness. A at blank of material can be used, and is shaped to a funnel-like, tapered configuration having a circular cross section. if desired, the device can have a somewhat attened or elliptical cross section, if a Hat knot is desired.

The completed tie form has a transversely curved front portion 16 merging at its sides into back wings or portions 18, the curvature of the front portion being continued .into the wings to impart the above-mentioned circular crosssectional shape to the device. The front portion has an arcuately and upwardly bowed top edge 20 which will impart to the completed knot a correspondingly upwardly bowed shape at its upper end. The curvature of the top edge is continued into the top edges of the back wings, so as to cause said back wings to converge downwardly along curving lines as best shown in Fig. 4, at 22. The bottom edges 24 of the back wings are also curved, and converge upwardly, merging into the free side edges of the back wings. The free side edges of the back wings, that is, those side edges that are not joined integrally to the sides of the front portion, are spaced closely apart as at 25, thus making the device slightly resilient for the purpose of increasing the frictional grip thereof upon the tie knot when the knot is tightened thereabout.

A conventional four-in-hand tie 28 includes, when knotted, a front panel 30, a back panel 32, and a knot 34. In use of the device, the tie is first knotted in the regular manner, and the knot is left somewhat loose. Then (see Fig. 5) the tie knot form i4 is slipped onto the back panel, and shifted longitudinally thereof toward knot 34. The back panel, of course, extends directly through the center` of the knot so as to merge into and form one side of the neckband of the knotted tie. As a result, the tie form will be shiftable to its iinal position shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In this position, the form is engaged frictionally in the knot center, inwardly of the two superposed front portions or laminations of the knot, and inwardly also of the two superposed back knot portions.

The cross-sectional area of the device, particularly at the smaller end thereof, is such as to constrict the back panel transversely to cause the back panel to be held frictionally by the form when the tie is being worn, thus to prevent slippage of the knot. However, the back panel is nevertheless adapted to be pulled through the form when the knot is being tightened to the collar of the shirt on which the tie is worn. One can, therefore, tighten the necktie knot without diliculty, and without departure from the customary procedure followed when one is knotting a necktie and shifting the knot thereof into place.

The tightening of the knot about the tie form is also adapted to cause the outer surface of the form to be engaged frictionally with the knot portions surrounding the same. This eifects a smoothing action wherein the knot is smoothed, shaped, and tightened about the forming device. The device thus will become, in effect, embedded in the knot, and will impart to the knot a symmetrical taper as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The engagement of the back panel in the tie form, it should be noted, will be brought about not only by constriction of said panel to the cross-sectional area of the form, but also by forcing of a portion of the back panel into the space 26 between the back wings.

ln Figs. 9-12, a modified form has been shown, wherein there is provided an adjustment means for varying selectively the width or cross-sectional area of the device. The device has here been designated generally at 36, and includes a body 38 which is like that of the iirst form so far as the general shape thereof is concerned. In this instance, however, the body is integrally provided, on its inner surface, with an inwardly facing stop shoulder 443 of rectangular cross-section, said shoulder extending through the full innercircumference of the device. Shoulder 4) is spaced a short distance above a series of inwardly facing, circumferentially extending teeth 42, 44, 46. The teeth also extend through the full inner circumference of the device, and cooperate to define circumferential, inwardly facing recesses in a selected one of which a split, wire ring 4S is engaged. The ring 48 is less resilient than the body of the'tie form, and will therefore expand the tie form radially, when disposed in a selected recess.

Due to the tapered shape of the body, one recess will normally be of a. diameter greater than the other. Thus,

there is a recess defined between shoulder 4l? and tooth 42, and this will be greater in diameter than the recess defined between teeth 42 and 44. The recess between teeth`42 and 44, correspondingly, will be of a greater diameter than that defined between teeth 44 and 46.

When the body is to be adjusted to its smallest width or cross-sectional size, the ring will be in the largest recess. if the body is to be adjusted to its intermediate width, the ring is disposed in the middle recess, this being the ring position shown. lf the largest width is desired, the ring will be shifted into the lowermost or smallest recess. The resiliency of the body permits it to be manually spread to permit movement of the ring from one recess to another.

There will be no danger of the ring slipping out of the body of the device, since the stop shoulder will insure against its upward movement beyond' the top recess, and the small diameter of the lower end of the body will insure against its downwardmovement out of the" lower end of thebody.

In this Way, the finally shaped knot will be formed to an adjusted width, so that one who prefers a narrow knot can shape the knot narrowly, while one who prefers awider knot can form the knot more broadly.

A desirable Vcharacteristic of the particular adjustment means shown resides in the fact that the stop shoulder and teeth define a serrated or roughened surface interiorly of the body, that will increase the grip of thel body on the back panel of the necktie.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire. to secure by United States. Letters Patent l'. A knot holdingV and shaping device for a fourein-hand necktie comprising a tapered, open-ended, sleeve-like body adapted for engagement in the previously formed knot of a neclttie, said body being proportioned for extension therethrough of the back panel of the knotted tie, said body being split down the .back from end to end to define spaced apart, resiliently spreadable back wings thereon, and means on the inner surface of the body for adjnstably expanding the same in a radial direction. to form the body t0 a selected cross-sectional size, said means. including a ring' extending circumferentially of Ysaidinner surface andv adjustable longitudinally of the body, the ring being of4 less resiliency than the body.

2. A knot holding and shaping device for a four-inhand necktie comprising a tapered, open-ended, sleevelike body adapted for engagement in the previously formed knot of a necktie, said body `being proportioned for extension therethrough of the back panel of the knotted tie, said body being split down the back from end to end to define spaced apart, resiliently spreadable back wings thereon, and means on the inner surface of the body for adjustably expanding the same in a radial direction to form the body to a selected cross-sectional size, said means including a ring extending circumferentially of said inner surface and adjustable longitudinally of the body, the ring being of less resiliency than the body, the inner surface of the bodyY having a series of circumferentially extending, ring-receiving recesses spaced longitudinally thereof to hold the ring in selected positions of adjustment.

3. A knot holding and shaping device for a four-inhand necktie comprising a tapered, open-ended, sleevelike body adapted for engagement in the previously formed knot of al necktie, said body being proportioned for extension therethrough of the back panel ofthe knotted tie, said body being split down the back from end to end to define spaced apart, resiliently spreadable back wings thereon, and means on the inner surface of the body for adjustably expanding the same in a radial direction to form the body to a selected cross-sectional size, said means including a ring extending circumferentially of said inner surface and adjustable longitudinally of the body, the ring being of less resiliency than the body, said means further including a series of circum-V ferentially extending, inwardly facing teeth on the inner surface of thel body dening therebetween recesses in any one of which the ring is engageable.

A. A knot holding and shaping device for a four-inhand neoktie comprising a tapered, open-ended, sleevelike body adapted for engagement in the previouslyy formed knot of a necktie, said body being proportioned for extension therethrough of the back panel of the knotted tie, said body being split down the back from end to end-to define spaced apart, resiliently spreadable backY wings thereon, and means on the inner surface of the body for adjustably expanding the same in a radial direction to form the body to a selected cross-sectional size, said means including a ring extending circumferentially of said inner surface and adjustable longitudinally of the body, the ring being of less resiliency than the body, said means further including a series of circum` ferentially extending, inwardly facing teeth on the inner surface of the body defining therebetween recesses in any one of which the ring is engageable, the' taper of the bodyT being adapted to step down the diameters of the recesses in the direction of the smaller end of the body, thev body including' acircumferential shoulder spaced from said series of teeth to limitmovement of the ring in one direction within the body.

References Cited. inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,679 ve neue :time 3o, 1936 2,644,163 Guaschino July 7, 1.953

639,055A France Mar. 5, i928? 759,340 France Nov. 16, 1933' 

